Wrench



J. V. BELLUOMINH WRENCH f" APPLICATLON FILED 1. 1521.

Patented July 12, 1921 v INVENTOR. 1144/01, V: Bellman Liza:

A T TORNEY UNITED STATES JOHN V. BELLUOMINL OF JACKSON, CALIFORNIA.

WRENCH.

Application filed. February 12, 1921.

1/ 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN V. BELLUOMINI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, county of Amador, State of Cali" fornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nrenches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference marked there on, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in hand wrenches, and particularly to that type commonly known as monkey wrenches, which have fixed jaw and a movable jaw arranged for a certain amount of movement to alter the size of opening between the aws.

As usually constructed, the adjusting of the jaws is a slow procedure, consuming in the aggregate a considerable amount of valuable time.

The principal object of my invention therefore is to eliminate the objectionable features common in most wrenches, by providing, a means for allowing the jaws to be moved away from each other almost instantaneously and automatically for their entitre spread if necessary, permitting them to be brought together again by hand if necessary and almost as quickly, but at the same time providing a hand-operated mechanism for making accurate adjustments at any point in the relative opening of the jaws.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of arts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wrench, showing the jaws closed, and the close-adjustment member in its operative position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but with one of the cover plates removed to show the mechanism, and with the close-adjustment mem ber freed from the movable jaw, allowing Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 444,436.

the latter freedom of movement away from the fixed jaw.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on a line Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a shank caving a fixed jaw 2 at one end thereof.

Slidable on the shank 1 for a certain distance is a movable jaw 3, also having a relatively short shank t extending adj accnt one edge of the shank 1 and provided with ratchet teeth 5 on the edge thereof adjacent the shank 1. The shank .1 is cut away as at 6 at a certain point and from the face thereof adjacentthe shank 1, to receive a worm 7 having axial pins 8 slidable in slots or recesses 9 in the shank 1 at the ends of the cut away portion 6, such slots being positioned at right angles to the adjacent face of the shank Mounted in the inner end of these slots are springs 10 bearing on the pins 8 and acting to normally press the worm into engagement with the teeth 5, the height of the cut-away portion 6 being sufficient to permit said worm to be drawn entirely clear of the teeth 5.

A spring 11 is connected to the end of the shank at and to the adjacent end of the shank 1, these ends being the ones opposite the jaw connections.

To conceal and inclosc the spring and to guide the shank '4 and hold the parts in proper position, I provide cover plates 12 fixed on the shank 1, extending over said shank 4 and spring, and having inturned and abutting flanges 13 which with the plates form a complete inclosure for the spring and also a guide for the shank 1. The end of these plates adjacent the jaws also serve as a stop for the movable jaw to limit the extent of opening thereof, and the plates themselves are of course provided with bevel-edged openings 14 to the worm 7 In operation, the worm 7 is normally engaged with the teeth 5 and is adapted to be turned by the fingers to work the shank 4; and movable jaw in either direction.

When it is desired however to make a relatively great movement in a quicker manner, the jaw 3 may merely be moved toward the fixed jaw by the hand without touching the worm 7, since it will be seen that the teeth 5 are shaped to allow the same to work free of the worm in the direction of the fiXed jaw, provided the worm. is-allowed to lift from the teeth. This being the case on account of the springs 10, the effect is then that of an ordinary pawl and ratchet mech anism.

lVhen it is desired to quickly move the movable jaw in the opposite direction, to spread the opening between the jaws, the worm 7 is lifted. clear of the teeth by the fingers, and the movable jaw, pulled by the spring' 11, instantly moves to its limit of travel, unless the holding-out pressure on the worm is withdrawn before this limit is reached.

From the foregoing description it'will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfils the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

lVhile this specification sets forth indetail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to and do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

able jaw slidable in the said inclosure and,

provided with teeth on the face thereof adjacent the fixed-jaw shank, and a spring pressed worm mounted in the latter shank for movement to and from the movable-j aw shank, the fixed-j aw shank being recessedto receive said worm and the side plates being orificed to allow the worm to project therethrough whereby the latter may be manipulated by the fingers on opposite sides thereof but the diameter of said worm being less than the overall width of the side plates and shank, whereby the worm will be protected. e

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOI-IN v. BELLUOMINI. 

